What Cities Are People Most Likely to Have Their Cars Stolen?

Your vehicle might be a little bit safer this year against auto theft than it has been in the past, but according to a new report, you might just want to hang on to that security system and full coverage insurance for awhile.

While auto theft was down nationwide 3.3 percent in 2011, the FBI warns that even with vast technological advances in security, there are still more than 730,000 vehicles stolen each year.

A report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau outlines the top 20 cities where auto thefts are most likely to occur. With 12 cities in California making the list, it might be a good idea for those people living in the Golden State to purchase additional insurance. Or maybe even a hot-headed guard dog.

The first four cities on the list are the same as they were in 2010. Fresno, California continues to reign supreme, followed by Modesto and Bakersfield-Delano, California and Spokane, Washington.

Although the majority of the worst cities on the list are located in the western part of the United States, places like Detroit and Oklahoma City are doing their part to keep insurance rates high for those people living in the Midwest — they are the only two cities in that region to make the list, ranking at number 11 and number 17, respectively.

Places least likely to be hit by auto thieves include State College, Pennsylvania, with Elmira, New York, and Harrisonburg, Virginia closely behind.

Rural cities tend to rank at the bottom of the list due to posing fewer opportunities for thieves.